UT News Search Button By: Paul Stekler Columns appearing on the service and this webpage represent the views of the authors, not of The University of Texas at Austin. If you were surprised by recently completed legislative session’s focus was on far-right social issues – permit less gun carry, fetal heartbeat abortion restrictions, curbs on teaching race in public schools, transgender athletes, and voting restrictions – and not on definitive solutions to the breakdown of our energy grid, be prepared for even more in July’s special session. Elections have consequences and the only way to change this dynamic is for Democrats to not abandon the field in 2022, no matter how daunting the task. The first step is for someone to seriously challenge Gov. Greg Abbott, someone who needs no introduction to the Texas electorate. Beto O’Rourke.